Friday, October 2, 2009

Ironic Snapshot

So for the past couple weeks I have been kind of frustrated about my job. I think mostly it's because in Madrid I had a job that allowed me to be creative, be in leadership, have a say in how and when I worked, etc. Coming back to an hourly job where I answer the phones and have to stick to a pretty strict schedule and ask my manager for permission to deviate isn't coming naturally.

It occurred to me this week that it's probably a pride issue more than anything. I hear myself saying "I have a college education, I have work experience, I have blah blah blah and I deserve better than this."

Do I?

No.

Even though it's frustrating, I think it's good for me to not be in leadership for a while. Maybe I'm actually still really young and still have a lot to learn from, well, pretty much everybody.

So this week..

New attitude? Check. Feeling good. On Wednesday I came across the verse "May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in you." (Ps. 119 something). I made that verse my prayer and decided to try to treat all the patients who called in like I was talking to Jesus on the phone.

The first few went well. Hopefully I made a few people smile and was a cause for joy. Feeling pretty good about myself.

And then this guy calls in and asks for an appointment. No please, no niceties, demanding tone. I try, in my sweetest voice, to explain to him that there aren't any slots left, but I could try to see if I could squeeze him in the next morning. I remind myself that I'm talking to Jesus on the phone here. I am a cause for joy here, people, even when I don't give them what they want.

I got out the words "I'm sorry, but we don't have any..."

"Go to hell!" he yelled, and hung up.

I guess I still need a few more lessons in humility :).